Ken Lown provided Recollection #2 here and kept in touch by letter with Old Pastonians. RIP

​16 April 1923 - 2 August 2019Dr Ken Lown, who passed away in August 2019, was born in Sheringham, the youngest child and only son of Hilda (nee Frankling) and Harry Lown. Ken attended the Paston Grammar for his secondary education.The outbreak of war in 1939 and the call up of many of Paston’s male teachers, disrupted Ken’s plans to continue at school. His ambition was to study medicine. Ken was too young to join up, so he made the decision to leave school and take work in a bank in Norwich. As soon as he was able he joined the RNVR and saw service as an observer with the Fleet Air Arm (1941-1946).

On release from service, Ken was offered a place to study medicine at the London Hospital. He qualified in 1953. By then he was married to Monica, who hailed from Norwich, and with their family they moved to Westgate-on-Sea where Ken has secured a position to practice as a GP. He was to stay in the Thanet area for the rest of his life, as a much loved and well respected member of the local community. His hobbies and interests were legion, but usually had some connection with all things nautical, as one would expect of a lad from Sheringham.

When Ken was given to talking of his school days at “the Paston” it was always with great affection. He could still give a good rendition of the old school song when he was well into his nineties. He did mention that one of Paston’s more famous pupils was none other than Admiral, Lord Nelson – but hastened to add, with a twinkle in his eye, that he and the man who led the victory at Trafalgar did not attend the school at the same time. There was also a story about catching the train to North Walsham, and the Paston boys stowing away the North Walsham High school girls in the luggage racks above the seats. Post exam high jinks? A daily ritual? We never quite got to the bottom of that one and he never did tell.

Ken passed away in Broadstairs during the afternoon of 2 August. He is survived by his 3 children, 5 grandchildren and his great grandson, Ryan.

Supplied by Bridget Lown Evans (daughter) on behalf of all the Lown family